[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 7, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-13807]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 7, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[C-549-811]

 

Notice of Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation: 
Disposable Pocket Lighters From Thailand

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 7, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Elizabeth A. Graham or Kristin M. Heim, Office of Countervailing 
Investigations, Import Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
Washington, D.C. 20230; (202) 482-4105 or 482-3798, respectively.

The Petition

    On May 9, 1994, we received a petition in proper form filed by the 
BIC Corporation on behalf of the United States disposable pocket 
lighter (``disposable lighters'') industry. In accordance with 19 CFR 
355.12, petitioner alleges that manufacturers, producers, or exporters 
of the subject merchandise in Thailand receive benefits which 
constitute bounties or grants within the meaning of section 303 of the 
Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act).

Injury Test

    Although Thailand is not a ``country under the Agreement'' within 
the meaning of section 701(b) of the Act, the merchandise being 
investigated is non-dutiable under the Generalized System of 
Preferences and Thailand is a contracting party to the General 
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. Therefore, the U.S. International Trade 
Commission (ITC) is required to determine whether imports of the 
subject merchandise from Thailand materially injure, or threaten 
material injury to, a U.S. industry.

Standing

    Petitioner has stated that it is an interested party, as defined in 
section 771(9)(C) of the Act, and that it has filed the petition on 
behalf of the U.S. industry producing disposable lighters. If any 
interested party, as described under paragraphs (C), (D), (E), or (F) 
of section 771(9) of the Act, wishes to register support for, or 
opposition to, this petition, such party should file a written 
notification with the Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, in 
accordance with 19 CFR 355.31.

Exclusion Requests

    Under the Department's regulations, any producer or reseller 
seeking exclusion from a potential countervailing duty order must 
submit its request for exclusion within 30 days of the date of 
publication of this notice. The procedures and requirements regarding 
the filing of such requests are contained in 19 CFR 355.14.

Scope of Investigation

    The products covered by this investigation are disposable pocket 
lighters, whether or not refillable, whose fuel is butane, isobutane, 
propane, or other liquified hydrocarbon, or a mixture containing any of 
these, whose vapor pressure at 75 degrees fahrenheit (24 degrees 
celsius) exceeds a gage pressure of 15 pounds per square inch. Non-
refillable pocket lighters are imported under subheading 9613.10.0000 
of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (``HTSUS''). 
Refillable, disposable pocket lighters would be imported under 
subheading 9613.20.0000. Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided 
for convenience and Customs purposes, our written descriptions of the 
scope of this proceeding is dispositive.

Initiation of Investigation

    The Department has examined the petition on disposable lighters 
from Thailand and found that it complies with the requirements of 
section 702(b) of the Act. Therefore, in accordance with section 702 of 
the Act, we are initiating a countervailing duty investigation to 
determine whether manufacturers, producers or exporters of disposable 
lighters receive countervailable bounties or grants. The following 
programs are included in our investigation.

1. Industrial Estates/Export Processing Zones
2. Preferential Short-term Loans Under the Export Packing Credit 
Program
3. Tax and Duty Exemptions Under the Investment Promotion Act
4. Tax Certificates for Exporters
5. Rediscount of Industrial Bills
6. International Trade Promotion Fund

    This notice is published pursuant to section 702(c)(2) of the Act 
and 19 CFR 355.13(b).

    Dated: May 31, 1994.
Susan G. Esserman,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 94-13807 Filed 6-6-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-M